Arsenal sign Yossi Benayoun on loan

Arsenal have signed Israeli international Yossi Benayoun on a season long loan deal.

The creative midfielder, who was injured for much of last season, has fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge and now looks likely to provide competition for Tomas Rosicky, Aaron Ramsey, Gervinho and Andrey Arshavin at the Emirates.

“Arsenal has confirmed that they have agreed to sign Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun on a season-long loan deal.

“The Israeli captain arrives at Emirates Stadium with a wealth of Premier League experience, having spent successful spells at West Ham United and Liverpool before his move to Stamford Bridge.

“The 31-year old started his career in Israel with Hapoel Be’er Sheva, before sealing a move to Maccabi Haifa.

“A switch to La Liga with Racing de Santander followed in 2002, before the midfielder secured a move to England in 2005 with then Premier League newcomers West Ham United. After excelling at Upton Park, Benayoun moved to Liverpool in 2007, scoring 18 goals in 92 appearances for the Reds, before his switch to Premier League rivals Chelsea in July 2010.

“Everyone at Arsenal wishes Yossi every success during his time with the Club.”

At least he’s on loan. If we had signed him permanently I wouldn’t be happy. We have wage money left over from the Cesc/nasri deal so better to get an experienced player in the squad. Let’s face it the kids just ain’t doing it. Won’t be happy until Arteta’s signature is ours!

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7 years ago

goonerbegood

Arteta has signed for Arsenal- true talk

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7 years ago

cassius

Chelsea confirmed “we regret that we have to let go of Benayoun but his dental package was crippling the clubs finances…:)

a strange one. hopefully he will be an impact sub and ramsey will get his act together. glad to see mertesacker and dos santos joining our defence and jury is out on park. hopefully he’ll turn out to be another eduardo…

we’ll have a nice bit of cash in the bank to spend in january too if we need to…

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7 years ago

bt62 Gooner

One things for sure he’ll have plenty of company there.Would be funny if it wasn’t so bloody true!!! AFFA!!!!

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7 years ago

Zed

Fabregas, Nasri -> Out
Benayoun, Artetta <- In

Has Wenger given up on trying to win things? This is crap

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7 years ago

andy

seriously?…….. shut up

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7 years ago

OOKED

“Judge me in May” (2008)

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7 years ago

Ayo

who was nasri when he arrived? pipe down.

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7 years ago

ArsenalForever2004

Gervinho was already a replacement for Nasri on the wings with more directness (rather than Nasri’s irritating crab passing when he could easily surge forwards, just like Hleb) and more assists and goals in him – Wenger assumed Nasri would move into Fabregas’ position after he left which was his plan B if he could not convince Cesc to stay. There are only three midfielders in the world who can match Fabregas – Xavi, Iniesta and Sneijder – so we were always going to get a downgrade on Cesc. Getting two creative midfielders to make up for that while also allowing Wilshere and Ramsey game time too in the ATM position is very good.

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7 years ago

Bunburyist

How stupid are you? Gervinho is Nasri’s replacement, Benayoun is a luxury, and a wonderful one at that. As for replacing Fabregas, it was never going to happen. Players like him occur once every decade. So enjoy Arteta or just fuck off. Please.

I hope your right. If Arteta has signed I feel confident in beating Liverpool to the 4th place

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7 years ago

Allypallygooner

I try my best to be optimistic. I’m delighted with mertesacker and santos. I’m optimistic about park. But our midfield signing….benayoun….I’m gutted. It just shows how badly we can’t compete any more I think. What is benayoun? 5th choice at Chelsea? He’s now our creative midfielder filling that void that we all know too well.

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7 years ago

Dannyboy

Yes. Signed. Always confident goonerbegoof. Good man

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7 years ago

Allypallygooner

I take it all back. Artetaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now benayoun in addition to arteta. That is nowhere near as bad

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7 years ago

Dannyboy

Sorry goonerbegood

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7 years ago

goonerbegood

@Danny Boy, NICE ONE.

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7 years ago

Jasonissimo

Benayoun/Arteta good stop-gaps until the club can splash for someone like Kaka. If Arsenal wants to keep playing the 4-2-3-1 system domestically and in Europe (as is the done thing these days by top clubs) then both of these guys are streets ahead of Rosicky in terms of production and more consistent than young Jack and Aaron.

I’m contented for the moment, as fourth place no longer seems beyond us. Very doable with this squad in attack. I’m more concerned about the new defenders bedding in and forming a cohesive unit.

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7 years ago

Hatchetman

What happened to the world class signings as usual we had 80+ million to spend on transfers and spent SFA 40 million approx as usual the shareholders win banking 40 million into their account we should have blown the lot on quality players but as usual penny pinched

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7 years ago

Scott

I think our squad looks a lot healthier after today. Well done Wenger

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7 years ago

RSI

spot on mate. i think it’s been hard for the manager to do any business, apparently due to the tight as *** board and incompetent negotiators. Arsene deserves massive credit for so signings and taking all of the flack from the media and dooming fans.

NICE ONE ARSENE!!

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7 years ago

Alex

You know, it is kind of late that wenger took this action now. As a manager whose BPL experience spans from 15 years ago, he should foresee the departure of Nasri & Fabregas and took the necessary steps, or plan B if you would. That just speaking about creative midfield departement, what about defense; would you honestly think gibbs would be adequate to fill the left back spot? And me personally always thought that Djourou is not good enough yet. His mistakes usually because of his lack of streght when in one-on one with more agile and stronger striker like drogba or wellback.

Well it’s late but I hope it’s not too late.

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7 years ago

RSI

@ Hatchetman. Per and Santos are “world class” (hate that term) however you look at it, so is the flying forehead. Arteta is a top player with that prem experience everyone has been crying out for, my guess is he’ll be more useful to us than $amir was over the course of a season. i’m not so sure about Yossi, but heh, better to have than have not, and it’s nice to have someone experienced as squad backup.

so that’s 3 world class signings plus two proven prem players, add to that talent and potential from Ryo and Ox. what exactly is your problem with our transfers?

hope everyone can stop moaning now and support our shiny new look team. COME ON YOU F’IN GOONERS.

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7 years ago

DEEEEEEEEEENCH

Decent enough, a good underrated midfielder with experience.

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7 years ago

Fay

Love Arteta but wtf do we have to give Benayoun 70k a week? He has played 8 games for chelski and some muppet in AFC thought he was worth that amount in wages. Least we have a team that won’t lay down and die plus a bench that is not our reserve/youth team.

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7 years ago

5am

feel a lot better at the mo as a gooner – still waiting for the actual confo about artets tho as can’t quite believe it was all done in time…..would be devastating as been looking out to him for ages but wenger was only recently sayin he wasnt interested?? what a turn around if so and finally would show some serious intent instead of all the stupid excuses we’ve had served up to us til now. fingers crossed goonies!! :-]

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7 years ago

stops

arteta temporary replacement for fabregas until we have more time in a window to bring in a long term replacement and benayoun back up option so denilsons replacement and it wont be hard to fill those boots (and remember gervinho was nasris replacement)

I really think Yossi and Park can be players who will put in effort and show some resilience on the pitch resembling Kuyt.

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7 years ago

Johnny

Overall good day – Yossi and Arteta. We are a better team today than we were this time yesterday.

When examining our transfer business this summer, one deal does stick out – Ox Chamberlain. Obviously a player for the future. But when I look at his $12 million price tag, and what Chelsea paid for Mierless (same price – $12 million) I’m still a bit puzzled about our philosophy/direction. I know there are lots of variables to buying players, but we may remember this window for the players that wanted to come, but somehow didn’t make it – specifically Mata. That said, today was a good day, and long overdue for all the supporters. Time to get excited for Swansea, and the season ahead. Let’s go Gunners!

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7 years ago

BODMAS

I haue been following arsblog in th couple of years now… am priiledge to make a coment now… ARSENAL FOR LIFE… Wenger Rules………..

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7 years ago

Sam

Forget Benayoun at Chelsea, I was a huge fan of his at Liverpool (apart from Kuyt, the only player I didn’t want to slap). He was great to watch and played well. I just hope he can forget his spell at Chelsea and be good for us!

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7 years ago

Good-Bloke

Arteta and Benayoun are both well handy players to have. Wealth of prem experience, both can do the business right now!
They have bollocks too, not fragile personalities and definately not afraid to have a go.

we get a injury prone 30 year old on a 4 year deal which breaks wengers own thoughts on giving an over 30 more than a year deal and tops it off by signing a hack in benayoun who cant even get a gig with chelseas reserves.

will begin supporting blyth spartans as of now 😳 cant believe wenger and the clubs un reaction if youd like.

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7 years ago

Johnny

Thats why we are called supporters – support the club through thick and thin. We haven’t had many thin years (I know, 6 years without trophy. . .. ) but we’ve been so close so many times. Frustrating not to get A trophy when we’ve been so close – ABSOLUTELY! But we’re one of very few (if not the only one) with 15 straight years of CL qualification. A crappy couple league results – ABSOLUTELY. But it’s not as if it is all doom and gloom. Whether or not we agree with the transfer business this summer, week or today, the fact is it’s done, the season awaits us, we’ve got a number of quality experienced players today and laid the groundwork for perhaps acquiring more talent in January or definitely next summer (Hazard, Martin M’Villa) – which does count for something. I’m very comfortable with Wenger as our manager for this season, and if anyone can bring us a top 4 finish with this squad (almost the same one as the last 2 years minus Cesc and N$s) it is Wenger. Arteta and Mertersaker came to Arsenal for Wenger, as much for the CL football. As AFC supporters we should get behind these players and support them, and at a minimum give them a chance. The rate we were going this time last week, I would’ve happily taken 4 established internationals as new signings, the three most notable being in positions we desperately needed – Mertesaker CB, Santos LB and Arteta CM/CAM/CDM. I hoped for 3 real big signings, but I’m overall happy with who we did succeed in getting, and it should create a fresh, more positive atmosphere in the club, on the training ground, with the supporters and most of all results on the pitch. Can’t wait for the Swansea game (and here’s hoping all our internationals return from duty injury free! At least we don’t have that concern with Arteta, so even better). It has to get better after last weeks results, and from my vantage we became a better team today than we were yesterday or last Sunday. Always a Gunner, no matter what may come!

I understand the frustration but it won’t get you anywhere. Trust me, you’ll have a much better time at least trying to be positive about the team than negative. It’s true that Arsenal hasn’t/can’t/won’t sign world class players but that doesn’t mean they can’t still put together a squad that will compete with the best. Go Gunners!

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7 years ago

Bunburyist

A lot of amazing players don’t get games at Sugar Daddy Clubs. It’s subject to the whim of the manager. I think of Jerome Boateng sitting on the bench for City, for example. If we had spent that kind of money on a defender we’d be creaming our pants. But had we bought him for 10m, we’d still have fucking losers like you whingeing about it.

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7 years ago

george the realist

while it is a job of a supporter to support the team, when they are major injustices done to my club by those who run it, then its our job much as it is the job of the population to keep the government in check we must keep our board members and administrators in check.

we are not robots to blindly follow a club into its own demise. ive been their thick and thin already and my loyalty cannot be questioned.

what can be questioned is the action of the arsenal football club and its actions in brining in

mertesaker – had his poorest season for werder and his own supporters dont mind him coming as he had a poor season last year

arteta – whats the point in arsene having an ideology and not keeping too it, hes turning 30 and signs a 4 year deal ? while he is good for depth he is no better than a diaby is and a cm midfield squad of Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Emmanuel Frimpong, Abou Diaby, Alex Song Mikel Arteta Thomas Rosicky IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH for Aston Villa let alone us.

now we have blown the money we received from our best two players and our team is still not as competitive as we were last year.

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7 years ago

ray_bandana

george, I think with all the comments you’ve posted today that your loyalty can be questioned.

This all comes down to the fact that everyone judges a player on the money that is spent and the hype surrounding them, rather than considering how they will actually fit in the team. We already had a very strong first choice midfield in Song, Wilshere and Ramsey. Bringing in experienced players such as Arteta and Benayoun, as well as Mertesacker in defence, is exactly what a young midfield and team like this needs.

Arteta has won trophies, and dealt with one of the most intense fixtures in the modern game, the Old Firm derby. That is exactly the kind of player we needed. He’s determined and willing to put himself about when we’re up against it. And he can shoot. There’s no doubting that those two traits will benefit the team.

Whilst I appreciate why you feel the club has been injusticed by those on the board, surely you have to wait and see what happens with regards to these transfers. It’s widely accepted that our wage structure does not fit in with the club’s standing in the game. Wenger acknowledges that we need to adjust this, and the extra funds available give the board the means to do so. If we adjust the wage structure now, it will improve our bargaining ability with players, and situations such as the one with Juan Mata will be avoided.

Finally, can I pick out the line ‘whats the point in arsene having an ideology and not keeping too it’.
BECAUSE IT WASN’T F***ING WORKING!!!

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7 years ago

george the realist

i find it funny how you say song and ramsey is a solid midfield, and thats where i know that its too late for you, your deluded nature has already denied yourself the ability to accurately judge our squad without bias.

wilshere apart song has not contributed as much as another player can do he is probably one of the dumbest onfield players ive seen that shows a complete lack of football intelligence or if he does he lacks the ability to perform it, the anchor role is vital in our defensive structure and simply put he just hasnt developed enough if we want to be serious challengers the league.

as for ramsey he may have the potential one day, but after the injury its clear his form hasnt improved significantly enough for him to be considered a 1st team starter.

as for my loyalty being questioned

“This all comes down to the fact that everyone judges a player on the money that is spent and the hype surrounding them, rather than considering how they will actually fit in the team”

that is probably the biggest jibber jabber bulshit ive ever heard.

10 million and a 4 year contract, for a 30 year old player who had serious injury concerns last season and didnt get any set or notion of good form at all, brought in to replace cesc fabregas a 10+ goal a season 15+ assist a season world class playernot to mention world cup winner with his ball to iniesta with arteta and another injury riddled chelsea/liverpool squad player at best.

[…] our final acquisition of the transfer window was Benayoun, who was supposedly the Plan B for Arteta, though only on a season-loan. Again, not what everybody had in mind, as the midfielder is 31 years […]

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7 years ago

Johnny

Dont know if Benayoun was brought in as a full time player. He rarely started at Liverpool, but when he did come on in the 60th minute I clearly remember at least 5-8 games where his impact, creativity and setting up goal scoring chances were immediate. He is a different type of player, which may account for his ability to be such an impact substitute. His experience will also be invaluable in the big games, as well as during the cup games.

Question: I assume since he is on loan from Chelsea he can’t play in any of our matches against them (Chelsea)? Anyone have the details on this, or have they been released yet. Hopefully this clause was omitted since we have an option to buy him at the end of the loan term. Would be interesting to know since we still have 2 league matches vs Chelsea to play

Good things happening at AFC – and certainly a much better day than last Sunday!

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7 years ago

Popeye

Agree that that arteta decent player confused about 4 yr deal for 30 yr old strange one that but seriously to all those who believe we will get hazard et al in january are on a different planet, with the jokers we have running this club we should never have been in this position in 1st place

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7 years ago

josh

Dont know what everyone is complaining about. if you watched football on a regular basis and not just what his stats are on FIFA11 you would know that benayoun is a real class player. i for one would much rather Arteta & Benayoun to just Arteta.

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7 years ago

george the realist

you are possibly, what 12 years old and have only seen benayoun youtube clips i imagine.

he is a horror and if you think arshavin doesnt track back wait till you see him, wow he has abit of technical skill but at 31 lacks consistency, pace , passing ability and most important will be another feature of our injury list for most of the season,

poor signing arsene

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7 years ago

dholio

I was following the deadline day for most of the day today. When Arteta was off again and it seemed that Yossi would be the only midfield recruit, I was pretty gutted. I never really rated him even though I can remember him doing some damage with Liverpool. But now that we got Arteta, I can see Yossi being a valuable addition to the squad. We need depth and he can be an impact sub for us. I can see Wenger playing him out wide or just behind the striker. Hope is restored with these signings of the last 2 days and it’s time for the Gooner faithful to stop the negativity and get behind this team again like the 3000 travelling support at OT last Sunday. But this time, we’ll have a proper team with some depth rather than a paper thin lambs to the slaughter squad to route for!

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7 years ago

heihaci

I was annoyed with this signing at first but with the signing of Arteta it’s not bothering me anymore. The medical team will be busy this season!

Squad is better now but still disappointing that we never really brang in superquality after loss of two world class players

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7 years ago

neutral

Wenger needs midfield cover while he evaluates the development of Ramsey and Wilshere, his other long term targets (Hazard, Goetze, ect…) were either unavailable or cost too much. If Ramsey and Wilshere step up we might not even see much of Arteta and Benayoun, however if they are having an off game or are injured I would much rather see Benayoun come on to change the game than Chamakh, Diaby, or one of the youth/ reserve players

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7 years ago

george the realist

obviously the last time you saw benayoun play was 3 years ago when he was doing not bad at liverpool lol these comments make me laugh

More like George the Nazi. Lay off the hate, man. Benayoun isn’t a great player and he isn’t a horrible player. Just be glad we made some signings and we can put this summer behind us and play some football.

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7 years ago

The only Sam is Nelson

george until you demonstrate some insight/intelligence yourself you’re not qualified to mock others lack of it

YB and MA bring creativity and an ability to unlock packed defences that we might otherwise have lacked. they improve the team, which ultimately is all that matters.

if you only want to say how awful our players are (without even having seen how they blend into the Arsenal squad and way of playing) then you’re either stupid, or you support somebody else perhaps.

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7 years ago

george the realist

after losing fabregas and his replacement nasri bringing in these two players cannot improve the creative playmaker role in the club in any way or shape, he is too good to replace i admit without spending big bucks, but im not asking for that, signing two injury riddled players in the twighlights of their careers is clearly not the answer to our problems.

the proof will be in the pudding and we will have a horrid season, and i cant wait to say those 4 words after these players myths have been debunked 😳

bunch of blind arrogant fools

benayoun a creative player lol

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7 years ago

Stepanovs is my Dad

George has a crush on Yossi.

Don’t be ashamed, George (Porge) some of us like a bit of teeth…

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7 years ago

george the realist

“Chelsea won’t be paying any of his £70,000-a-week wages during his time at the Emirates Stadium.”

well i hope this confirms to you fools how stupid the mistakes our club has made, seriously open your eyes!

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7 years ago

Stepanovs is my Dad

How much did he cost us!?!?

Seriously Porgie, get over yourself and pop off back to your Spuds website.

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7 years ago

george the realist

just the type of attitude we should be kicking out of the club 😳 disgraceful